2007 Toyota Matrix Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the check-engine or electronic control module (ECM) trouble that leaves the engine stalling or dropping power, and about the open airbag recalls on the passenger-side inflator. Many reports come in at low to moderate mileage, often while driving at speed or pulling away from a stop, and several owners describe the dealer replacing the ECM or being unable to reproduce the concern.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Stalling or sudden loss of power (ECM / engine computer)

   • 15 complaints (16%)
   • median 54,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2016

   Complaints describe the engine quitting without warning while driving at highway or in-town speeds, sometimes accompanied by a rough or low idle, check-engine light, or a tach that jumps. Several owners say the vehicle restarted after sitting or would only creep at low speed, and that the dealer replaced the electronic control module or engine computer. A separate group reports the same loss of power with no stored explanation, and a 2010 recall covers a possible crack at solder points on the ECM circuit board for vehicles with this engine. Reports cluster from roughly 15,000 to 90,000 miles, with some as low as a few hundred miles and others past 250,000.

   Recall 10V3840003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ECM recall repair (campaign 10V384000) was completed, and request service records for any ECM or computer replacement. A test drive that includes a cold start and a short highway run can help reveal a rough idle or hesitation.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2007 Matrix electronic control module malfunctioned on feburary 4 2010. My Matrix has less than 15,000 miles at the time of the incident. The car stopped running and I had failure of multiple components of the car. It was dangerous as the car would not restart and I had difficulty pushing the car to safe place.”

   NHTSA complaint #10312422, filed 2010-02, 14,500 miles

   “There multiple times were my vehicle will lose all power and not restart after being turned off. I have had the battery changed to brand new, plus a different alternator installed with no fix to the issue. I do believe my vehicle ECM has gone bad and I have not received a recall notice.”

   NHTSA complaint #10853132, filed 2016-04, 87,000 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden acceleration or engine surging at low speed

   • 13 complaints (14%)
   • median 34,000 mi at 3.3 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2017

   Owners describe the engine revving or the car lurching forward while their foot was on the brake, typically at a stop light, in a parking lot, or while pulling into a space; some report it escalating to highway speeds. Dealers often told owners the concern could not be reproduced, and some noted that floor mats were not involved. In several reports the car struck another vehicle, a building, or a wall. Mostly reported below about 60,000 miles, often at low speed in parking lots and at intersections, with some at highway speed.

   What to check: On a test drive, check that the accelerator pedal returns freely and that the pedal and floor-mat area are clear. Ask whether any throttle-body, pedal, or computer work has been done and whether the concern was ever reproduced by a shop.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Manipulating cruise control, i17 downhill unintended acceleration, no brake response, moved to rocky left shoulder, throwing rocks noisy but may have helped slow me but brakes would not depress, in some order? Shifted to neutral, turned off key, emergency brake, brakes now working. Only time it happened, a few weeks later Toyota says remove floor mat, did that also quit using cruise control as often I think I use it a lot more than most people. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10317969, filed 2010-03, 15,000 miles

   “There have been two instances of this problem. The first time, I was completely stopped just back of an intersection, after coming out of my employer's parking lot, preparing to make a right turn on a two lane urban thoroughfare, when all of a sudden I felt the engine rev and my car surge forward, although my foot was on the brake. I pressed hard on the brake to no avail; I thought I was going to be propelled into the intersection into traffic. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10382209, filed 2011-02, 16,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light and passenger inflator recall

   • 33 complaints (34%)
   • median 92,500 mi at 9.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2020

   Many complaints concern the passenger-side airbag inflator recall: owners received notice but were told the part was not yet available and were advised not to use the front passenger seat in the meantime. Others report the airbag warning light staying on, with dealers diagnosing a clock spring or airbag coil that needed replacement, or that the airbag did not deploy in a collision. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 30,000 to 250,000 miles, and often raised during the recall notices of 2015 and later.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the VIN against open airbag recalls and confirm the inflator remedy was actually performed, not just scheduled. Turn the key to see that the airbag light goes out after the self-test, and ask for records if it stays lit.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Was driving 45 MPH on the highway and rear-ended a truck. My airbag did not deploy and resulted in a badly sprained shoulder and other contusions. I am in a great deal of pain and cannot work yet. I have missed 3 days of work and cannot return for at least another 4. This cost me pain, inconvenience, and income.”

   NHTSA complaint #10294445, filed 2009-12, 43,250 miles

   “Toyota has not rectified the airbag issue in a timely manner. I received an interim notice from Toyota regarding the recall of airbags on my car 8/10/2015. The status of my car according to Toyota remains interim and as such they are not able to replace the airbag. However, in said letter Toyota stated that, until the remedy becomes available in your location, we recommend that you do not operate the vehicle with an occupant in the front passenger seat. In other words, you cannot fully use your car and to date, we cannot fix it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10787487, filed 2015-10, 85,000 miles
4. 4
   Tires

   Tire sidewall failure and uneven rear tire wear

   • 5 complaints (5%)
   • median 23,469 mi at 2.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2007–2011

   Owners report original-equipment tires with sidewall leaks or sidewalls that split and shred at highway speed, and one owner was told the rear alignment was out of specification while the front was fine, producing premature rear tire wear. In several cases the tire maker declined to replace the tire under warranty. Mostly reported between about 17,000 and 40,000 miles, often within the first two years of ownership.

   Recall 10V035000

   What to check: Inspect all four sidewalls for cracking or bulging and check that the load-capacity label required by the tire-labeling recall (campaign 10V035000) is present. Have a shop check rear alignment and look for uneven inner or outer wear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Have a 2007 Toyota Matrix--was less than one year old and had approx 17000 miles. Notice the tire looked low on air one day--removed the tire to check for nails or damage and found no--so took the tire to a garage and they put the tire in a water bath and found a leak on the side wall--I tool the goodyear eagle tire to a good year dealer--as that was the original tire on the car--they would not replace the tire--so decided to buy a new set of michelins. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10239225, filed 2008-08, 17,000 miles

   “Premature excessive tire wear on rear of 2007 Toyota Matrix at 40,000 miles. Advised by local ntb tire store that rear tire/wheel alignment is out of specs while front alignment was perfect.”

   NHTSA complaint #10244489, filed 2008-10, 40,000 miles

Buying note. Ask for the recall and service history first, especially whether the ECM and airbag inflator campaigns were completed, then take a longer test drive that includes a cold start and a stop-and-go stretch. Tires and the fuel tank strap are simple to inspect before purchase and worth checking on any example of this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.